Arman Tsarukyan is ready to go, looking to get back in the cage soon to take the title from champion Islam Makhachev or prove he’s indeed the No. 1 contender in the division.
“My back is feeling good, and I’m ready,” Tsarukyan told The Schmo. “If they’re going to give me a fight in May or end of April, that would be great.”
Tsarukyan was supposed to fight for the UFC lightweight title Jan. 18. However, a day before the fight, Tsarukyan withdrew from the bout due to a back injury. Renato Moicano replaced him and lost to Makhachev at UFC 311.
After the event, UFC CEO Dana White said Tsarukyan had lost his chance and that his next fight wouldn’t be for the belt, despite being the No. 1 contender.
Tsarukyan would gladly take his title fight back should the UFC change its mind, but he also welcomes a top contender fight with Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira.
“I want to fight with contenders,” Tsarukyan said. “I want someone from top five like Gaethje or Oliveira. Gaethje wants to fight for the title, so it makes sense to fight with me because nobody is going to give him title fight. It’s not going to be fair that he’s going to get the title fight. So he’s got to beat me or Oliveira to get that title fight. There’s Ilia, too, but I think they’re going to give me Oliveira or Gaethje or maybe title fight.”
